Tunnelling shield with jack for vertical adjustment of cutter drum

ABSTRACT

A tunnelling shield comprising a means for vertical displacement of the rotary rock-cutting member with respect to its frame and the shield axis.

United States Patent Bolotin et al.

[ TUNNELLING SHIELD WITH JACK FOR VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT OF CUTTER DRUM [72] Inventors: Evgeny Moiseevich Bolotin, Otkrytoe shosse, 24, korpus 25, kv. 12; Boris Nikolaevich lerusalimsky, Otkrytoe shosse, 24, korpus 5-a, kv. 45; Igor Semenovich Ostrovsky, Otkrytoe shosse, 24, korpus 31, kv. 21; Vladimir Ivanovich Razmerov, Leningradskoe shosse, 62, kv. 90; Valentin Isidorovich Ratin, Studenitsky proezd, 6, kv. 12; Mikhail Evseevich Rivilis, Otkrytoe shosse, 24, korpus 32, kv. 4; Leonid Ivanovich Saveliev, Otkrytoe shosse, 29, korpus 11, kv. 58; Leonid Konstantinovich Khaidurov, Otkrytoe shosse, 24, korpus 5-g, kv. 31; Vladimir Alexandrovich Khodosh, ulitsa Burdenko, 16, kv. 16; Nikolai Dmitrievich Pisarev, Otkrytoe shosse, 24, korpus S-a, kv. 20, all of Moscow, U.S.S.R.

[ 51 Oct. 3, 1972 [22] Filed: Aug. 17,1970

[21] Appl. No.: 64,265

[52] US. Cl ..299/33, 299/90 [51] Int. Cl. ..E01g 3/03 [58] Field of Search ..299/31, 33, 90

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,411,826 11/1968 Wallers et a1 ..299/31 Primary Examiner-Emest R. Purser Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen [57] ABSTRACT A tunnelling shield comprising a means for vertical displacement of the rotary rock-cutting member with respect to its frame and the shield axis.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU BT I972 3.695 719 sum 1. OF 2 TUNNELLING SHIELD WITH JACK FOR VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT OF CUTTER DRUM The present invention relates to tunnelling shields used for constructing tunnels of various types and, more particularly, to shields in which rotation is transmitted directly to the rock-cutting member.

The tunnelling shields of this type are well-known and usually comprise a body having feed jacks and a movable frame mounted inside thereof and carrying a stop with a central hole which accommodates the axle of the rock-cutting member, said stop resisting the axial and radial loads produced by the tunnel face on the rock-cutting member. The circular raceway of the rock-cutting member rests on the frame through the intermediary of rolls and is rotated by a number of motors mounted on said frame through a driven member (a gear or pin wheel) secured to the back side of the rock-cutting member.

As known, the position of the rock-cutting member with respect to the shield axis depends on the hardness of the rock being cut and the rock-cutting member is usually displaced vertically relative to the shield axis. In known shields of this type the displacement of the rockcutting member is hampered and necessitates auxiliary equipment for lifting and fixing the member together with the frame.

Additionally, in the known shields it is difficult to ensure correct meshing of the motor driving members with the driven member of the rock-cutting member which results in quicker wear of said driven member.

The present invention seeks to provide a shield in which the aforesaid disadvantages are eliminated.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved tunnelling shield in which it is easy and simple to displace the rock-cutting member relative to the shield axis and to ensure accurate meshing of the driven member of the rock-cutting member with the driving members of the shield motors.

We hereby propose such an improved tunnelling shield which comprises a body having a frame arranged inside thereof, said frame carrying a stop with a cylindrical hole accommodating the axle of the rotary rockcutting member which rests through the intermediary of rolls on said frame and is provided on the back side with a driven member meshing with the rotation drive which is mounted on the frame.

According to the invention, the improvement consists in that there is a circular gap between the axle of the rock-cutting member and the frame stop, and use is made of at least one jack providing for the vertical displacement of the rock-cutting member with respect to the shield axis within the limits of this gap, said jack being located between one of the rolls and the frame.

This embodiment makes it much easier to perform vertical displacement of the rock-cutting member and ensures accurate meshing of the driven member of the rock-cutting member and the drive motor.

Now the invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of the tunnelling shield according to the invention in a position in which the axis of the rock-cutting member is aligned with the shield axis;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line ll-II in FIG. 1 and;

FIG. 3 is a view of the frame and rock-cutting member at the point of installation of the jack and of the roll interacting with the latter.

Secured in a shield body 1 (FIG. 1 and 2) are horizontal guides 2 supporting frame 3 which carries rotary rock-cutting member 4. For this purpose, the frame 3 has a stop 5 with a cylindrical hole 6 which accommodates with circular gap 7 axle 8 of the rockcutting member 4, said axle being fastened by means of washer 9 and nut 10, and rolls 11 on which circular raceway 12 of the rock-cutting member 4 rests. in this case the stop 5 resists only the axial load from the rockcutting member 4, whereas the rolls 11 resist radial load.

The rock-cutting member 4 is rotated by a drive constituted by several motors 13 which are installed on the frame 3 and have toothed driving elements 14 meshing with driven element 15 (a gear or pin wheel) secured on the circular raceway 12 of the rock-cutting member 4.

Depending on the hardness and stability of the rock being cut, the rock-cutting member can be extended from the body 1 to different distances by means of jacks 16 which move the frame 3 along the guides 2 and feed the rock-cutting member 4 towards the tunnel face.

The working feed of the shield body 1 towards the face is ensured by hydraulic jacks 17 which bear against the tunnel lining (not shown), the latter being laid in the form of tubing rings or blocks by means of circular erector 18 of a known design mounted in the rear portion of the shield body 1.

The rock broken down by the rock-cutting member is transferred by conveyor 19 to a transport vehicle (not shown).

According to the invention, located between one of the rolls 11 and the frame 3 is a hydraulic jack 20 for the vertical displacement of the rock-cutting member 4 relative to axis 0-0 of the shield within the limits of the gap 7.

As is shown in FIG. 3, body 21 of jack 20 is built directly into the frame 3 and its plunger 22 interacts with shank 23 of fork 24 carrying the roll 11 which supports the rock-cutting member 4.

The shank 23 of the fork 24 is located in hole 25 in the frame 3, and can be vertically moved therein by means of jack 20.

By adjusting the size of the gap 7 with the jack 20, it is possible to ensure accurate meshing of the driven member 15 of the rock-cutting member 4 with the driving members 14 of the rotation drive motors 13.

The principle of operation of the shield according to the invention is analogous to that of known shields and can in brief be described as follows.

The rotating rock-cutting member 4 is fed towards the tunnel face together with the frame 3 by the jacks 16. With one cutting operation completed, the frame 3 together with the rock-cutting member 4 is returned by the same jacks 16 to the initial position while the shield body 1 is moved towards the face by the jacks 17. Then, the working cycle is repeated in the same sequence. As it has already been mentioned, the tubing lining of the tunnel is assembled by the erector 18 after the forward movement of the shield body *1 and after the rock has been cut through a width sufficient for erection of the lining.

What is claimed is:

l. A tunnelling shield comprising a shield body having a horizontal axis; a frame slidably accommodated in said body and carrying a stop with a cylindrical hole; a rotary rock-cutting member including an axle located in the hole of said stop with a circular gap; rolls supported on said frame, said rock-cutting member resting on said rolls; at least one jack installed between one of said rolls and said frame for moving the rock-cutting member vertically with respect to the shield body within the limits of said gap; a driven member secured to said rock-cutting member; and a drive means for rotating said rock-cutting member, said drive means being fixedly mounted on said frame and interacting with said driven member of the rock-cutting member.

2. A shield as claimed in claim 1 comprising jack means between said body and frame for effecting relative horizontal movement therebetween.

3. A shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a toothed driving wheel and said driven member comprises a toothed member in mesh with the driving wheel.

4. A shield as claimed in claim 3 wherein said jack is adjusted to support the rock-cutting member on said rolls while the toothed driving wheel is in mesh with the driven member.

5. A shield as claimed in claim 3 wherein said jack is installed at the uppermost roll.

6. A shield as claimed in claim 5 wherein said jack comprises a body fixed to said frame and a slidable plunger in said body, said shield further comprising a fork supporting said uppermost roll, and a shank on said fork resting on said plunger.

7. A shield as claimed in claim 5 wherein said driven I member is mounted at the periphery of said rockcutting member and said drive means is fixed to said frame at a location offset from said axle.

8. A shield as claimed in claim 7 wherein said axle is centrally mounted in said rock cutting member. 

1. A tunnelling shield comprising a shield body having a horizontal axis; a frame slidably accommodated in said body and carrying a stop with a cylindrical hole; a rotary rock-cutting member including an axle located in the holE of said stop with a circular gap; rolls supported on said frame, said rock-cutting member resting on said rolls; at least one jack installed between one of said rolls and said frame for moving the rock-cutting member vertically with respect to the shield body within the limits of said gap; a driven member secured to said rock-cutting member; and a drive means for rotating said rock-cutting member, said drive means being fixedly mounted on said frame and interacting with said driven member of the rock-cutting member.
 2. A shield as claimed in claim 1 comprising jack means between said body and frame for effecting relative horizontal movement therebetween.
 3. A shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a toothed driving wheel and said driven member comprises a toothed member in mesh with the driving wheel.
 4. A shield as claimed in claim 3 wherein said jack is adjusted to support the rock-cutting member on said rolls while the toothed driving wheel is in mesh with the driven member.
 5. A shield as claimed in claim 3 wherein said jack is installed at the uppermost roll.
 6. A shield as claimed in claim 5 wherein said jack comprises a body fixed to said frame and a slidable plunger in said body, said shield further comprising a fork supporting said uppermost roll, and a shank on said fork resting on said plunger.
 7. A shield as claimed in claim 5 wherein said driven member is mounted at the periphery of said rock-cutting member and said drive means is fixed to said frame at a location offset from said axle.
 8. A shield as claimed in claim 7 wherein said axle is centrally mounted in said rock cutting member. 